A Cohesive Architectural Design Starts at the Front Door.

Most homeowners want a home that feels intentional.

They want the architecture, windows, doors, millwork, finishes, and hardware to feel connected. They want guests to walk in and sense that every detail belongs. But one of the most important design choices is often left until the end.

The front door.

“The front door is an afterthought tacked on when a project is nearing completion, and that’s wrong on many levels,” says Rob Fontaine, founder and president of Upstate Door.

Fontaine has spent more than twenty-five years helping homeowners, architects, designers, and builders think differently about doors. Based in western New York State, Upstate Door manufactures bespoke doors and windows for homes where the details matter. And in Fontaine’s view, a door should never be treated as a stand-alone product.

It should be part of the home’s larger architectural story.

The front door is often the first design detail a visitor notices. It sets expectations before anyone steps inside. It speaks to the home’s scale, style, craftsmanship, and character. Yet many homeowners do not experience their own homes that way.

“The importance of first impressions may not be obvious, especially if you’re accustomed to entering your home from the garage,” says Fontaine.

Guests, neighbors, and future buyers see something different. They see the entry. And when the front door feels disconnected from the rest of the home, the entire design can feel less cohesive.

When it is done well, the opposite happens.

A beautiful, style-appropriate front door can add curb appeal, enhance the home’s architectural character, and increase property value. More importantly, it can create a sense of continuity from the exterior to the interior.

That continuity is where Fontaine believes the real opportunity lies.

“All exterior and interior doors—and windows and millwork—are meant to tell a cohesive design story,” he says.

That story can be told in many ways. Wood type, wood grain, profiles, hardware, hardware finishes, glass, and proportions can all help connect one space to the next. A front door can relate to the interior doors. Window proportions can echo the entry. Hardware can carry throughout the home. Even the type and amount of glass used in doors, windows, and screen doors can strengthen the connection.

“You can use the same wood type, wood grain, hardware, and hardware finishes on your interior doors, windows, and millwork,” says Fontaine. “Your choice of glass in windows and screen doors—even how much glass is visible in the room—can enhance the connection.”

He also recommends choosing windows that echo the exterior door’s proportions. These may seem like small decisions, but together they help a home feel deliberate rather than assembled piece by piece.

Today, homeowners are also asking more of their doors from both a design and performance standpoint.
“People are buying bigger and grander doors today,” says Fontaine, “and we’re definitely seeing more and more modern styles. We’re seeing rift-sawn white oak. Cherry is out. Walnut is staging a comeback.”

Construction practices are shifting as well. For years, solid wood was considered the standard for a quality door. Today, engineered wood is having a moment because it offers more stability, helps prevent warping, and provides a consistent, long-lasting appearance.

Glass is another area where design and performance come together. The composition of the glass affects both the look of the door and the energy efficiency of the home. U-ratings measure heat loss or gain; the lower the number, the better the insulation. The way the air space within the glass is filled, along with how the glass is coated, can influence that rating. In general, homeowners are choosing more energy-efficient doors and windows.

Finishes are evolving, too.

While the grade and depth of a wood stain can shape a door’s appearance, Fontaine says he is seeing fewer traditional wood looks and more rich finishes and paint. Designers are becoming more involved in selecting color palettes, and bold hues are being used to add drama, personality, and visual interest.

Hardware plays a similar role. It can be subtle and unobtrusive, or it can be substantial enough to make a statement. Either way, Fontaine believes it should support the larger design rather than feel like a separate decision made after the fact.

That is why timing matters.

One of the biggest mistakes Fontaine sees is waiting too long to make decisions and not getting involved with the manufacturer to decide on the details. By the time the front door is finally discussed, other selections may already be locked in. Homeowners may find themselves trying to choose something that falls somewhere between what they originally envisioned and what is still realistically available.

“We see customers wanting something in between what they had in mind and what’s available,” says Fontaine. “The sooner they act, the better their chances of getting the door they really want.” Working directly on the details with Upstate Door from the beginning allows our customers to get exactly what they envision.

For homeowners, architects, designers, and builders, the lesson is simple: bring the door conversation into the process earlier. When the front door is considered alongside the windows, interior doors, millwork, hardware, glass, and finishes, the result is stronger, more cohesive, and more personal.

Upstate Door supports that process through a combination of craftsmanship, customization, and technology.

Fontaine says the company is receptive to advances in tech, AI, and robotics, not as a replacement for craftsmanship, but as a way to strengthen precision, performance, and customization.

“We’ve recently invested in a robotic paint sprayer,” says Fontaine. “The process helps luxury doors and systems perform better while still looking beautiful.”

Many people think of woodworking as an old-fashioned craft. Fontaine sees it differently. By marrying hands-on techniques with technology, Upstate Door can produce luxury doors and systems that are beautifully crafted, highly customized, and built to perform.

The company sells through dealer channels, but its experts are available to answer questions and work with members of the trade from start to finish. Fontaine describes Upstate Door as a unique concierge resource, helping to solve design and performance challenges, including unique architectural profiles and custom-sized proportions that enhance the overall design.

“We produce custom, made-to-order pieces, but we use all of our horsepower in doing so,” says Fontaine.

That is the heart of the Upstate Door approach. A door should not be an afterthought. It should not be chosen in isolation. It should support the architecture, connect to the interior experience, and help tell the story of the home from the first impression to the final detail.

When the front door is chosen last, it can feel like an add-on.

When it is considered from the beginning, it can help define the entire home.

To learn more about what sets Upstate Door apart, visit upstatedoor.com. As Fontaine says, the company’s tagline captures the promise clearly: Designed for Distinction.

UPSTATE DOOR
424 N. Main St, Warsaw, N.Y. 14569
800-570-8283
upstatedoor.com